Access planning
Driveway removal: plan how people reach the door
By Anchor Demolition Scarborough · Updated
Anchor work-library image showing general scope. It is not an attributed project for this guide.
How will people enter the property while the driveway surface is being removed?
List the entrances people need, the route proposed for assessment and who controls access between concrete removal and rebuilding.
Start with every entrance in use
List the front door, side entrance, garage access and any separate occupied unit. Describe who normally uses each entrance and whether someone needs step-free access. Do not assume a narrow strip beside the work can serve as a temporary route. Give the assessor the actual access needs before asking whether the removal can proceed in stages.
Separate residents from deliveries
A parcel drop, grocery delivery and regular household entry do not necessarily need the same arrangement. Identify a contact for visitors and an alternative place for deliveries if one is available. The contractor must assess the work layout; the owner should not improvise a crossing over a removed surface or through the work area.
Ask about the transition between contractors
The period after concrete removal matters as much as the removal visit. Ask who controls access before the paving or landscape contractor starts and who decides when a route is usable. Removing the old surface does not establish a completed replacement or accessible temporary path. Put this interval in the discussion with both contractors.
Make changes visible
If a planned entrance becomes unavailable, update the access agreement before relying on another route. For example, an owner might propose using a side entrance while the driveway is out, but the carrying route may also pass that entrance. That conflict needs assessment, not a note saying residents will be careful. Include any shared entrance or adjoining property permission separately.
Details to bring to the discussion
Use the points below to explain the unresolved decisions when you contact the relevant service.
- Entrances and users
- Access needs to disclose
- Delivery contact
- Route proposed for assessment
- Person controlling the interval before rebuilding
Continue planning
Check requirements for your property
For requirements discussed in this guide, consult the applicable municipality and current primary sources before arranging work.